We are pleased to announce the programme of the upcoming “The Roman Republic and the 70s BCE: A Period of Uncertainty and Crises”, which will be held at Stewart House, London, between the 9th and the 11th of January 2025.
This event is organised by Emilio Zucchetti, Juan García González, Bertrand Augier, and Robinson Baudry and has been made possible by the generous support of the University of Nantes, the CRHIA (Centre de recherches en histoire internationale et atlantique), and the Région Pays de la Loire, within the framework of the CRRITIC (Crises de la République romaine : identités, transformations, imaginaires et conflits) project; Royal Holloway, University of London; the University of Girona; and the Institute of Classical Studies.
The history of the Roman Republic during the 70s BCE has generally been regarded by modern scholars as an obscure subject, a period challenging to analyse, mainly due to the fragmentary state of Sallust’s Histories, the absence of a comprehensive narrative of the decade in the ancient sources, the fact that only one speech of Cicero (in Verrem) has been preserved, and the challenges in discerning the political developments in the city of Rome during the period. However, the 70s BCE also witnessed the rise of leading politicians such as Lucullus, Crassus, and Pompey, the struggle of the tribunes to regain their political powers, the partial dismantling of the Sullan model, and the issue of enfranchising the Italians who had been granted Roman citizenship. The 70s BCE can also be considered a period of crisis during which the Roman Republic, as the ruler of an interconnected Mediterranean reality, had to contend with Lepidus’ coup, the Sertorian War, the third conflict against Mithridates VI, the Spartacus’ rebellion, and a severe economic and social crisis that affected the Roman Empire at all levels. This conference aims to bring together early career researchers and senior scholars who intend to present original interpretations of the 70s BCE and engage in a vibrant discussion. We aim to shed some light on this turbulent decade and demonstrate that it was not as “obscure” as it has been typically considered. The papers will last 20 to 25 minutes, followed by a discussion.
We are happy to announce that we have managed to set up a hybrid environment that will allow us to accept online and in-person attendees. Attendance is free. To register for in-person or online attendance, please email us at conf70sbce@gmail.com. The flyer is available here.
If you have any questions, please contact conf70sbce@gmail.com.
“The Roman Republic and the 70s BCE: A Period of Uncertainty and Crises” – Programme
Thursday 09/01/25
13.00-14.00: Welcome.
14.00-15.15: First Session.
Bertrand Augier & Gaelle Perrot: ‘What is a Crisis in the 70’s BCE? The CRRITIC Project and its first Results’.
Edward Bispham: ‘Uncertainty seen through Dust: the 70s as constructed in the Pro Cluentio of Cicero’.
15.45-17.00: Second Session.
Christel Muller: ‘Central Greece after Sylla: A Decade (a Century…) of Roman Plundering?’.
Julie Bothorel: ‘The Drawing of Lots in the 70s’.
17.30-18.45: Third Session.
Lucia Carbone: ‘Lucullus and the Poleis of the Provincia Asia: A Tale in Coins’.
Clara Berrendoner: ‘The Roman World in the 70s: Financial Shock and Attempted Solutions’.
Friday 10/01/25
10.00-11.15: Fourth Session.
Kit Morrell: ‘Reform in the 70s’ (online).
Antonella Bellantuono: ‘Political and Religious Crisis in Judea: The Roman Presence in Jewish Politics’.
11.45-13.00: Fifth Session.
Dominic Machado: ‘Italian Integration in the 70s BCE: A View from the Army’.
Benjamin Howland: ‘The Exemplary Spartacus: Spartacus as exemplum in Roman Republican & Imperial Literature’.
14.00-15.15: Sixth Session.
Emilio Zucchetti: ‘The Multitude in the 70s’.
Olga Liubimova: ‘Marcus Crassus and Tribunicial Agitation in the 70s BCE’ (online).
15.45-17.00: Seventh Session.
Silvia Lacorte: ‘”Ein unbesonnenerKopf?” A Politico-Ideological Analysis of Lepidus’ Consulship in 78 BCE’.
Juan García González: ‘Hispaniae armis sollicitae. The Provincial Strategy of Lepidus and Sertorius (78-77 BCE)’.
17.30-19.00: Eighth Session.
Gregory Coates: ‘After Victory: The nobilitas in the 70s BCE’.
Robinson Baudry: ‘Cursus honorum in the 70s’.
Bertrand Augier: ‘Domi nobiles and noui senatores: Italy and the Roman Aristocracy’.
Saturday 11/01/25
10.00-11.15: Ninth Session.
Alexander Thein: ‘The Sullan Constitution of Pompeii’.
Bunny Waring: ‘The Writing on the Wall: Sulla’s Material Legacy in the 70s BCE’.
11.45-13.00: Tenth Session.
Alfonso Álvarez-Ossorio: ‘Smoke on the Water… Piracy and Political Conflicts in 70s’ Roman Republic’.
Andrea Frizzera: ‘Surviving the 70s. Strategies and Connectivity of the Sullan Proscribed’.
13.00-13.15: Concluding Remarks.